Tent-supporting apparatus



July 1 1924. 1,499,395

A.MUEHLESEN ETAL TENT SUPPORTING APPARATUS File Aug. 5. 1921 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 1, 1924.

--N 1,499,395 PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH MUEHLEISEN A ND GROVER C. MUEHLEISEN, OF SAN DIEGO, GALIFORNIITENT-SUPPORTING APPARATUS.

Applicationled August 5, 1921. Serial No. 489,948.

To all whom t may conce/m:

Be it known that we, ADOLPH MnnHLnIsEN and GRovnR C. MUEHLEISEN,citizens of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the lcounty'ofSan Diego and State of vCalii the following is aspeeification.

l the illustration.

Our invention relatesito tents,` more particularly collapsiblesupporting means for tents of the central support square tapering` type,and the object-s of our inventions are: first, to provide a collapsiblesupportfor a ytent which may be folded up into compact form fortransporting; second, to provide a novel spreader means for spreadingthe upper portion of the tent in center pole tents; third, to provide anovelly constructed center pole tent supporting apparatus; fourth, toprovide a four-cornered tent support in which one ofthe members is usedas a spreader member` for tightening the upper portion of the tent andthereby securing the tent in position onrits supports; and fifth, toprovide a tent supporting structure of this class which is very simpleand economical of construction, easy to install, efficient in its actionand` which will not readily deteriorate or` get out of order. r

With these and other objectsy in view as will appear hereinafter, ourinvention con? sists of certain novel featuresofconstruction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will'be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set `forth in'the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings and to the characters ofreference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:y i

VFigure 1 is a perspective view of a tent shown in stretched positionand showing` the supporting means in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the main tent supporton an enlarged scale and showing some of the portions `in section tofacilitate Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the connecting jointfor y.the spreader membervwith the main central pole, and Fig. 4 is asectional view through4-l ofFig.3. f' f if p Similar characters yoflreference refer vto similar parts and portions throughout the severalviews of the drawings. w

The central post members 1, 2 and 3, spreader members 4andyg5, clips 6and 7,

tentS and stakes 9, constitute` the principal parts and portions of ourtent structure.

The tent 8 may be of any shape or form def,

sired, the one disclosed is a square one which is preferable for thissupporting structure.

It is secured at its fourl corners by means f of stakes 9` andpositioned vertically in the .center is al poleconsisting of the membersl, 2` and 3 which are ofthe proper length when connected together forstretching the tent the proper height.` yThe member lis,

provided with alpin lai in its Lipper end and with a reinforcing band 1bto prevent the same fromk splitting and on itsnorm'ally Ilower end it isprovided with a wide reinforcing band l,c `and the pole is cut' on a ,y

taper-1d. The' member@ is a similar` pole' member provided with a taperon each end conforming to the taperld and also pro-y vided with`supporting `and reinforcing bands 2a and 2b, one 'on yeach end and the`member 3 is yprovided with a similar supporting band 3a. onits upperendandfwit'h a` taper conformingto thetaper 1d, `thus providingmeans/for rigidly securing the n three members, l, 2and together, thus`permitting them tobe separated so that thev' may be positioned incollapsed form for transportation.A This member l is provided somedistance from its upper end with a f pluralitypof'clip members 7. Inthis case .we have shown four, spaced an equal distance apart aroundsaid polethree of which are y placed `on the outer" surface of the poleand supported by means. of screws 7a and extend outwardly in bifurcatedform and mounted therein is a bolt, preferably a stove bolt 7" whichpasses through a hole in the lthimble member 4a. rThis thimble member 4ais fitted on one end of the support 4 which is preferably a woodenmemberand the opposite'end c of said support 4 is provided with a pin similarto the pin 5 in the support 5. The clip member 6, it will be noted', isthe sameconstruction as thelclip member .7.' However, it will be notedthat the clip member 6` is set in at its upper side so that it ispositioned on an angle as shown best in: Fig. 3 of the` drawings and themember 1 on theside is provided with a tapered groove 1e in theV middlethereof extending to ,the outer surface of one of the leg membersof saidclip `member 6. The spreader memberyv is of the same construction as themembers 4, except that the thimble member 6a isprovided with a notch 6bin its lowersurface `which is tapered, the Walls, converge upwardly andWith an elongated hole 6C, the ends of which extend past the upper sideof the notch thus providing a means torl latching and supporting themember 5 in position relatively to the clip; This member 5 is thespreader member and is the last member to be positioned. The outer endis 'positioned in the hole in vthe tent in the usual manner and theinner end engages the upper end of the` slot 1e in the member l and isforced downwardly in the vsaid slot, 'the end Se engaging the innersurface of said slot and as itis forced downwardly the tent is spreadAatthe top and tightened in all directions so that When it reaches thetoot of the member Git is forced over the bolt (if where itis held inposition until released. lt `4Will be noted that the pole member 1 mustbe "moved avv-ay rroin the support 5 slightly before thel member 5 maybemoved upwardly inthe groove 1e so that the tvvo are loclredy togetherexcept when separatedv by pressure in horizontal direction. It Will4also befnoted thatthe members 4 and 5 when the tent is stretched inposition are approxirnately in a horizontal position and support vtheupper side of the tent.

Though Wechave shot-vn and described a particular construction,combination Y and arrangement of parts and portions, ive do not. Wish'to be limited to this particular 'cpnstructiom combination andarrangement but desire to include in the scope of our invention 4theconstruction. combination and arrangement substantially as set forth inthe appended claims.

It is obvious that With this construction there-is provided a tent whichis supported central pole Which is collapsible; that there is providedmeans extending from? said polein varying directions around said polefor supporting `the upper sidey oi said .tent and special means adaptedto engage :said poleand be drawn downwardly along said tpole forspreading the tent and tighteningitin itsposition; that said members 4 5will collapse against the member l fand the members 2 and?) may bepositioned 'against said members Aforming them in very rip (popact Jformfor transportation and the Having thus described our invention vvhatlive claim as rnevv. and desire to secure .by Letters Patent is: y'

t'ent apparatus, including a tent solver, a central pole, a plurality ofspreader 'supp'ortslsecured to 'said pole and radiating 11 fom, ,aphrlfrof streed-e1 members ,Se t9' ,Sedsllpports @nil @tending outyyfa'rdly Atherefrom and'supported by said er. it ,their Outer ands anda .Special l @der mme@ its 101.1@ endedaptdt@ 'engage vpole andI whendrawnn'dovvn- Wardly 'against' v:said pole to an approxi mateiyhorizontal position for tightening the tent ivill engage one of saidradiating spreader supports.

' 2. A tent apparatus, including a tent cover, a central pole, apluralityT of spreader supports secured to said pole and radiatingtherefrom, a plurality of spreader members securedto said supports andextending outwardly therefrom and supported by said cover at their outerends, a special spreader one of said radiating spreader supports andlatch means for 'latching said special spreader member in its downwardposition.

3. A tent supportincluding, a central pole provided With a taperingAgroove positioned in one side of 'said pole y deepening dovvn- 85Wardly, a plurality of radiating spreader supports pivotally connectedto said pole, a clip member secured to said pole at the" lower end ofsaid groove and a special spreader member y'consisting oit a poleprovided With 90 a thimble on one end provided vvith anotch extendinginto an elongatedV hole in said thimble member, the end of said thimblemember adapted to vengage said tapered groove and When one endy ismoved-'down- 95 ivardly Will tighten the tent and engage said clip. i

4c. A device of the class described. including a tent cover, a centralpole', a plurality ofvgeneral substantially horizontal-spreader memberspivotally con-nectedto said tent cover at their outer ends and connectedWith said pole;Y at their inner ends, and a special spreader memberadapted to engage said H pole at its inner end and be' shifted from an105 incline to a horizontal position for tightensaid tent cover. 5. Atent support including, 5a. central." pole composed of several separatemembers provided with a tapering groove positioned in one side of saidlpole'deepeningl downvvvardly, a plurality of radiating spreadersupports pivotally connected to said pole. a clip member secured to saidpole at the lo'vver end of vsaid grooveand a special 115 Vspreadermember :consisting of a pole provided vvit-h a thimble on one 'endprovided 'vvith a notch extending into an 1elongated hole in saidthimble member, the end of said thimble member adapted to engage saidtapered groove and when onel end is moved downwardly vvill tighten'thetent and-engage said clip 'and means for readily con'- necting anddisconnecting the ends oi' the separate members of said central pole.

In testimony ivhereoi, We have hereunto set ourY hands at San Diego,California, this 29th day of. July, 1921.

' ADOLPH MUEHLE-ISEN.

@ROVER C, v

